Undercarriage or chassis for flying-machines.



G. LEHBERGER.

UNDERGARRIAGE 0R CHASSIS FOR FLYING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21.1916. 1,29,297m Patented June 12, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

' ATTORNEY G. LEHBERGER.

UNDERCARRIAGE 0R CHASSIS FOR FLYING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21,1916- I Patented June 12, 1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

A TTOH/VE Y G. LEHBERGER. UNDERCARRIAGE 0R CHASSIS FOR FLYING MACHINES.

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v UNDERCARRIAGE 0R CHASSIS FOR FLYING-MACHINES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE. LEHBERGER, a citizen ofv the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Undercarriages or Chassis for Flying-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an undercarriage or chassis for flying machines of the heavierthan-air type, the object of the invention being to provide a carriage or chassis embodying cushioned 0r resiliently mounted supporting wheels designed to afford a proper cushioning action and which may be readily and conveniently adjusted by the pilot to steer the machine along the surface of the ground, particularly in launching and landmg along narrow roadways or in confined s aces.

A further object of the invention isto provide a carriage or chassis which may be used upon a. heavier-thanair machine of the hydroaeroplane type, and in which the supporting wheels may be adjusted to an inop; erative position so as to reduce resistance to travel and diminish liability of accidents from contact with extraneous objects when the structure is used in connection with a flying machine having a marine base.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which igure 1 is aside elevation ofan undercarriage or chassis embodying my invention, parts appearing, for better disclosure of the invention, in section.

2 is a front elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view with parts appearing in horizontal section.

, Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section through the head cushioning bearing of one of the wheel frame supports,

Fig. 5 is a detail section on the line 55 of Fig.4.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the main frame of the undercarriage or chassis which may form part of or be secured in any suitable manner to the main frame of the machine proper. This frame 1,

' which may be of any preferred or suitable construction, is shown in the present instance as being of. rectangular form and in- Speeification of Letters Patent.

'lower section 15 i 14, an upper section 16, and a llnk or intermediate section forming a joint pivot-,

embraces the Patented June is, raw.

Application filed July 21, 1916. Serial No. 110,580.

eluding corner posts or uprights 2, bottom longitudinal skids or runners 3, upper longitudlnal bars 4 and suitably arranged cross bars or rods 5, the parts being rigidly tight and united at their point of connection by upper and lower sets of coupling brackets or sleeves-6 and '7. The parts of the frame may be reinforced and braced in any suitable or required manner by bracing rods or wires The supporting wheels 9, which may be of the pneumatic-tiredcer other cushioned type, are disposed beyond the sides of the frame 1 and journaled upon spindles 10 pivot'ally connected for swinging movements in a longitudinal direction, as indicated at 11,with the ends of a horizontal transverse floating axle 12, which axle extends across the frame immediately above the skids or runners 3, bracing wires 13 or other suitable bracing connections between the axle and frame being provided to assist in guiding the axle and wheels in their movements and sustaining and bracing the same to meet the strains resulting from the shocks and jars frames resiliently mounted upon the main frame 1. Each of these carrier frames includes a steering 0st or rod comprising a xed to orrigid with the fork ally coupling the post sections 15 and '16 together for articulating movements, as hereinafter described. A coupling sleeve 19 normally rests upon the crown of the fork and post sections in the region of the joint and holds them fixed against pivotal motion or deflection.

The spindles 10 are provided with arms or lugs 20, forming steering knuckles, and the arms or knuckles of each wheel spindle are jointed to the rear ends of a pair of parallel motion links 21 joined at'their forward ends to the laterally transverse arms 22 of a substantially T- shaped steering lever 23, the-main arms of the levers 23 of the two wheels being pivotally connected by a transverse steering rod 25 connected to crossed controlling cables 26,'designed tolead in practice to a steering or control device arrangedin proximity to the pilots seat, whereby the wheels may be swung. laterally in either direction in unison extending or are. mounted to swing vertically upon rods or arms 29 fixed to and proj ecting from the bracket sleeves 7, by means of which the wheels and wheel frames are supported for vertical swinging motion upon the main frame 1, as will be readily understood.

The wheels and wheel frames are otherwise flexibly supported and suspended from the mainframe 1 through the medium of upper and lower sets of suspending rods 31 and 32, each composed of sections united by turn buckles 33 for taking up all the play or slack when desired. The said rods '31 and 32 are respectively connected at their upper and lower ends with the bracket sleeves 6 and 7, and theoppositeends of said-rods converge and are coupled by tiebrackets 34 which engage headed, pins or 'bolts 35 fixed to and projecting laterally from a-bearing sleeve or collar 36 in which the rod or postv section 16 is slidably' mounted, the two bearing sleeves 36 being united by a crossrod or bar 37, which con-' .nects the two sets of wheel frames suspend ing 'and supporting connections. Carried by each post section 16 above the collar 36 is a fixed collar or sleeve 38.which is provided with laterally projecting pins or rods 39 connected and braced at their outer ends by a cap piece or yoke 40 fitting upon the upper end of the post section 16.- As shown in the present instance, the pins or rods 36' are preferably formed by the ends of a continuous rod passing through the post sections 16 and fixed collar '38 andserving also to unite these parts together. The pins or bolts 35 and pins or arms 39 form supporting spindles for anti-friction sleeves or rollers 41 which are revolublymounted thereon, and engaging and passing around the rollers at the opposite sides of the post section 16 are looped elastic bands 42 which are retained in place against displacement between the bearing and fixed collars and the tired brackets 34 and arms of the yoke 40, the said bands forming elastic or cushioning expansive and contract- .ible connections between the steering posts of the wheel frames and thesupporting and suspending members therefor fixed to 'pensa'te forand absorb all shocks and jars the main frame, whereby the wheels and carriage frame. are permitted to have a resilient relative vertical motion withrespect to each other, the resilient backing" for the wheels thus alforded acting inconjunction with the resilient tires of the wheel to comin the landing of the machine and in its course of travel over rough or irregular may be pivotally coupled to the main frame,

whereby a further degree of elasticity and flexibility will be obtained without lessening the security of the connection between the wheel supports and main frame.

It will, of course, be understood that when the machine is ina standing position the weight of the machine body will be sustained by the elastic. connection 42 from the wheel frames, and that in the travel of the machine over irregular ground the said elastic connections will permit of the requisite amount of vertical play of the wheels and wheel frames for a cushioning action.-

In landing the machine the wheels will also be permitted to recede at the moment of contact to cushion the force of the impactand at the same time to permit the skids 3 to\come in contact with the ground to check the running speed and finally bring the machine to a stop, the reaction of the elastic connections 42 restoring the wheels to normal position to elevate the body of the craft and bring the wheels, in running contact with the ground. In their up and down, play it will be evident that the wheels move with the wheel frames which pivot on the rods 29, the upper post sections 16 sliding through the bearing collar 36 against the resistance of the connections 42, which tend to maintain the collars 36 and 38 in a normally spaced relationship,

which may be determined by the inter'position upon the post section 16 of a spacing washer 43 of either rigid or elastic material. At all times except when it is desired to throw the wheels out of action the sections .15 and 16 of the post of each wheel supthe. sleeve section 16 the link 18 will be 7 released for a flexing motion to break the joint, thus allowing the wheels to be swung upward to a position above the plane of the skids allowing the skids to be used alone or in conjunction with pontoons ,or other hydroplane surfaces. In practice, the sleeve 19 may be moved upward and downward to release the wheels fot'. the purpose set forth and to subsequently lock them in normal position by anysuitable type of operating means under the control of the pilot, or the arrangement may be simply such, as shown, as to require manual manipulation to throw the wheels into and out of use ;as occasion may demand. I have not deemed 1 80 it necessary to show means for adjusting .or the like running therefrom over guides to a bar connecting the sleeves, so that by suitable reverse movements of the controlling device the bar may be raised or lowered to release the wheels for a breakjoint action and to fix them again in normal position.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, the construction and mode of operation of my improved undercarriage or chassis for flying machines will be readily understood, and it will be seen that the invention provides a wheel base of this character which will afford a reliable and efficient resilient action, and admit of the adjustment of the wheels to operative and inoperative positions at will, without the use of a complex organization .of parts. Whilethe construction and arrangement of parts disclosed is preferred, it will, of course,

be understood that changes in the form, construction and arrangement of the elements within thescope of the invention as defined in the appended claims may be made without departing from the ,spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

I claim I 1. In a launching and landing gear for flying machines, the combination, with a frame structure, of wheeled carrying frames, each including a rod composed of jointed sections, means yieldingly backing the jointed rods of the wheel carrying frames, manually operable means for simultaneously rendering the joints of the rod flexible or inflexible, connecting means between the wheels to adapt them to have lateral motion in unison, and means for imparting steering motions to said connecting means.

2. In a launching and landing base for flying machines, the combination with a frame structure, of wheel carrying frames, each including a rod composed of sections and a link joining said sections together,

means yieldingly backing the rods of the wheel carrying frames, manually operable means engageable with rod sections and their connecting links for simultaneously rendering the rods flexible 0r inflexible, connecting means between the wheels adapting them for lateral movements in unison, and steering mechanism coupled to said connecting means.

3. Iii a launching and landing base for flying machines,,the combination with a frame structure, of wheel carrying frames, each including a rod composed of sections pivotally united by a connecting link, sleeves slidable. on the rods for rendering the jointed connections thereof flexible or inflexible, means yieldingly connecting the wheel carrier frames, and means for simultaneously moving .the wheels laterally for steering actions.

4:. In a launching and landing base for flying machines, the combination, with a. frame structure, of wheel carrying frames, each including a jointed rod, means slidably mounting and yieldingly backing each supporting rod, means for holding the joints of the rods normally rigid, said means being operative to release the joints for a pivotal motion of the rods to move the wheels into and out of operative position, and means for swinging the wheels laterally upon the rods for steering actions.

5. In a launching and landing base for flying machines, the combination, with a frame structure, of wheel carrier frames pivoted for vertical and lateral swinging motions of the frame structure, and including rods provided with pivot joints, means slidably supporting said rods upon the frame structure, means for yieldingly backing said rod, and means for swinging the Wheel frames laterally in unison, and means for rendering the joints of the rods flexible or inflexible.

In testimony whereof I affix signature.

GEORGE LEHBERGER. 

